Camp stretcher



Oct. 31, 1961 w. J. A. DE GROOT 3,006,000

CAMP STRETCHER Filed Dec. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 31, 1961 w. J. A. DE GROOT 3,006,000

CAMP STRETCHER Filed Dec. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,006,000 CAMP STRETCHER Willem J. A. De Groot, 222 Corle'tt Drive, Bramley, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa Filed Dec. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 777,993 Clauns priority, application Union of South Africa Dec. 10, 1957 1 Claim. (Cl. -111) This invention relates to stretcher arrangements.

' An object of my invention is to provide an improved stretcher for sleeping purposes and adapted for being used as a hospital stretcher.

A stretcher must be as light as possible, and its bulk must be as small as possible when folded, so that it may be easily transported. At the same time it must be easy to open out and erect, and when erected must be strong enough to withstand heavy loads and hard usage. My stretcher according to this invention is extremely light, folds up into a small size and is easily opened and erected. At the same time it is very strong and will carry the loads for which it is designed.

A feature of my stretcher which enables it to be light and strong and of small bulk is in an arrangement whereby the bracing and support for the legs thereof are provided by flexible steel cables, which are drawn taut when the stretcher is in open position. A novel and eflective means of attaching the canvas or other material of the stretcher to the framework is also employed as will be shown.

According tothe invention, a folding stretcher is provided supporting legs are pivotally attached at intervals to a folding bed framework and are rigidly maintained in the open position by flexible cables attached to the legs and to the bed framework at suitable points to provide the necessary bracing.

More particularly, the arrangement for fixing canvas or other material to a stretcher of my invention comprises lengths of Wire which are formed with a series of projections at intervals by bending the wire back on itself, the material is perforated near its outer edges at similar intervals to receive such projections, and the projections are inserted in the holes in the material. The material is folded back on itself and stitched so as to leave the projections exposed, and the wire projections are thereafter inserted into holes at similar intervals in the supporting framework, into which holes they are a press fit.

To illustrate my invention I now refer to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stretcher from the underside;

FIGURE 2 shows a device for attaching material to the framework of the stretcher;

FIGURE 3 shows in detail a section of the framework adapted to receive the material holding device; and

FIGURE 4 shows in detail how pieces of the framework are pivotally connected together.

In FIGURE 1 a rectangular framework of the desired bed size is formed by the combination of four pieces, 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown. The U-shaped piece or outer frame member 1 is pivotally connected to pieces or spaced inner frame members 2 and 4 at points 5 and 6, and U-shaped piece or outer frame member 3 is pivotally connected to pieces 2 and 4 at points 7 and 8, so that the rectangular bed size framework formed by the combination of these pieces may be folded into a much smaller rectangular framework. U-shaped piece 1 includes legs 1a and 1b connected by interconnecting section 10. U-shaped piece 3 includes legs 3a and 3b connected by interconnecting section 30. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are supporting leg members of conventional shape also pivotally 3,006,000 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 'ice , as shown, so that the leg members may be folded flat when it is desired to transport or store the stretcher.

A further feature of the folding framework is the method by which U piece 1 is pivotally connected to pieces 2 and 4. This detail is shown in FIGURE 4, and it will be observed that while U piece 3 and pieces 2 and 4 are pivotally connected (FIGURE 1) so that when the stretcher is opened the arms of the U and pieces 2 and 4 respectively form a straight line, in the case of U piece 1 and pieces 2 and 4, the pivotal connection is so arranged that when in the open position pieces 2 and 4 are staggered relative to the arms of U piece l by approximately the diameter of the pieces themselves. The importance of this feature is that it enables U piece 1 to fold flat inside pieces 2 and 4 while U piece 3 folds on top of pieces 2 and 4 so that in the folded position the framework occupies a space equal only to the area enclosed by U piece 3, and of a thickness twice that of the tubing comprising the framework. The folding leg members 9,.10, 11 and 12 are sufliciently small to fold flat inside this framework Without interfering with each other.

A feature of the invention is the flexible steel cables 13 and 14 which impart rigidity to thestretcher when opened, and enable it to be constructed of light materials. Cable 13 is at one end attached to the rectangular framework by clip 15 near the swivelpoint 7. It is then attached by any conventional means to leg member 10 on the same side of the framework near the lower end of the leg as shown, passes to leg member 9 towhich it is similarly attached, then back to. the rectangular framework, at U piece 1 at the end nearest leg member 9' as shown, along the end of the framework to a corresponding point near the opposite side of leg member 9, down to such opposite side of leg member 9, on to leg member 10 and back to clip 16 on the main framework near swivel point 8. The flexible steel cable 14 is similarly attached to the framework so as to brace the leg members 11 and 12 to U piece 3. At all points of attachment the cables are firmly aifixed so that they cannot slide, and so that they are drawn taut when the stretcher is in the open position. For additional rigidity and strength crosspieces 17 and 18 may be provided on leg members 10 and 11. Leg members 9 and 12 do not require such strengthening due to their proximity to the end pieces 1 and 3.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show a novel method of attaching to the metal framework the canvas or other suitable material forming the body supporting medium. Lengths of steel or alloy Wire 19 (FIGURE 3) are formed into straight lengths with a series of projections at equally spaced intervals, the projections being formed by bending the wire back on itself in the form of flat loops as shown. The material 20 (FIGURE 2) is perforated near its outer edges at intervals to receive these projections as shown in FIGURE 2. Wires 19 are inserted along the four sides of the rectangular material 20, and the material is folded back and stitched as shown in FIGURE 2 so as to hold wires 19 firmly in. position. Holes 21 (FIGURES l and 3) are provided along the underside of the framework formed by pieces 1, 2, 3 and 4 at suitable intervals and adapted so that the projections on wires 19 are a press fit in such holes. The material is then simply aflixed to the framework by pressing the projections on Wires 19 into the slits or holes 21 adapted to receive them, the natural springiness of the projections due to the method of forming them serving to keep them firmly in place. The projections may be pried loose when it is desired to remove the material for folding, cleaning or repair.

The framework may be constructed of aluminium or other light alloy, or even of steel if lightness is not a primary consideration.

The stretcher may be constructed to any dimensions desired without departing from the principle of the invention. The system of bracing by means of steel cables may also be applied in the same manner to folding tables, folding tents, and folding boats, which may all be constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

So also the method of attaching the material to the framework may be used in any application where it is necessary to attach a material to supports or other framework.

What I claim is:

A stretcher comprising first and second spaced U-shaped outer frame members each including legs and an interconnecting section connecting said legs, a pair of spaced inner frame members pivotally supporting said outer frame members in spaced relation, said inner frame members being separated by a predetermined spacing, the legs of said first U-shaped member being spaced from each other by a distance equal to said predetermined spacing, the legs of said second U-shaped member being spaced from each other a distance less than said predetermined spacing, the outer frame members being adapted to constitute with said pair of spaced inner frame members a substantially rectangular frame, the legs of said second U-shaped frame member being offset With respect to said spaced inner frame members, said second outer frame member being foldable with the legs thereof positioned between said inner frame members and said first outer frame member being foldable with the legs thereof positioned on top of said inner frame members, leg members pivotal on said frame members to positions whereat they are normal to said frame to support the latter, a first set of cables connected between said inner members and said first outer frame member, a second set of cables connected between said inner frame members and said second outer member, said cables having ends fixedly coupled to said inner frame members, means on said leg members and said outer members to engage said cables slidingly, a sheet of supporting material adapted for forming with said frame a body support, and wire means peripherally engaged on said sheet, said wire'means including a plurality of flat projections extending outwardly of said sheet and constituted by two connected portions of Wire extending along one another to provide surface contact therebetween, the frame members being tubular and having slits therein for frictionally engaging said flat projections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 69,193 Dreusike Sept. 24, 1867 153,665 Coates Aug. 4, 1874 604,942 Palmer May 31, 1898 712,203 Pellettieri Oct. 28, 1902 876,410 Stone Jan. 14, 1908 1,284,062 Danforth' Nov. 5, 1918 1,938,635 North Dec. 12, 1933 1,962,215 Sallop June 12, 1934 2,361,853 Lundquist Oct. 31, 1 944 2,708,276 Schloss et al. May 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,094 Sweden May 4, 1921 547,654 France Sept. 28, 1922 474,512 Canada June 19, 1951 848,409 Germany Sept. 4, 1952 

